Shetland is the most northerly island grouping in the UK with a long history of Viking settlement. However, reminders of settlements from an earlier time during the Bronze Age can be seen at Jarlshof.
Shetland is a top destination for birdwatchers – but every visitor will be impressed by the seabird spectacle. Awesome sandstone cliffs and gannets can be seen on boat trips to Noss, and a walk on Hermaness Hill on the island of Unst, the very end of the UK at Muckle Flugga, reveals a national nature reserve of nesting skuas. A popular excursion is to explore South Mainland down to Sumburgh Head to see the puffins nesting on the cliffs.
Shetland also offers a rich cultural experience for visitors. Traditional music is alive and thriving with many festivals taking place throughout the year, in particular, the Shetland Folk Festival in April and Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival in October. The award winning programme, Simmer’n Sessions encourages frequent and scheduled informal sessions dedicated to Shetland music through the local pub scene. The largest annual fire festival, Up Helly Aa, takes place in January – an ancient Norse festival admired the world over for its community effort and associated friendships.